CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s bow season officially opens this Saturday, September 26, and Governor Morrisey is kicking off the fall hunting season with a new statewide initiative aimed at supporting families in need.
The Governor announced the Hunters Helping the Hungry Grand Prize Giveaway, a partnership with Whitetail Frenzy that encourages hunters to donate harvested deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program. Any hunter who donates a deer through a participating meat processor—at no cost—is automatically entered into the drawing for a major prize package. The winner will be announced at the 2027 West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show in Charleston.
“There is a specific kind of magic in the West Virginia woods this time of year,” Governor Morrisey said. “Our hunters are some of our best conservationists, and by turning our world‑class outdoor recreation into economic opportunity and community support, we are building a stronger future for every Mountain State family.”
Helping Families Across West Virginia
The HHH program provides locally sourced venison to food banks and charitable organizations statewide. Mountaineer Food Bank Executive Director Chad Morrison says the donations make a direct impact.
“This hunting season, you can make a difference,” Morrison said. “By participating in Hunters Helping the Hungry, you can turn your harvest into nourishing meals for some of the more than 300,000 families, children, seniors, and veterans across West Virginia who experience the challenge of hunger.”
Grand Prize Package
Hunters who donate are entered to win a prize bundle featuring:
- Spartan Cellular Trail Camera
- Martin Compound Bow (valued at $1,300)
- Vortex 10×42 Diamondback Binoculars
- $500 Leonard Truck Accessories Gift Card
- $500 Blocker Outdoors/Scent Blocker Gift Card
- Trophy Treestands Hunting Blind
- Whitetail Trail Mix and Lethally Addicting Minerals
- Tudor’s Biscuit World Gift Basket + $100 Gift Card
Hunting’s Economic Impact
Hunting remains a major economic driver in West Virginia. According to the Sportsmen’s Alliance, more than 256,000 hunters spent $867 million on hunting‑related purchases in 2024, supporting 7,420 jobs statewide. Nearly 100,000 bow and crossbow hunters contributed to 32% of the whitetail harvest in 2025, according to the Archery Trade Association.
With bow season stretching through December 31, the extended season provides months of steady business for outfitters, lodges, gas stations, and small businesses across the state.
